Math Mansion

If you teach middle school math, you already know the moment: the kid who hasn't picked up a pencil all period suddenly leans over a puzzle like it's the most interesting thing he's seen all week. That's not an accident, and it's not really about the puzzle either — it's about giving his brain a break from heavy lifting while still, quietly, doing math. I'm spending an entire session on this exact idea at the free virtual Middle School Math Summit, July 27–29, 2026 — three days, thousands of...

Math review doesn't have to feel like a punishment. Most students tune out the moment they see another stack of problems that looks exactly like last week's homework — and honestly, who can blame them? The good news is that switching up your review format doesn't require hours of planning or a classroom full of supplies. It just requires the right activities. Here's what actually works for middle school math review, and why the format matters as much as the content. Why Creative Math Review...

Research consistently shows that students can lose two to three months of math progress over the summer — and middle schoolers are especially vulnerable. The good news is that stopping summer slide math loss doesn't require a full curriculum overhaul or hours of teacher prep. A little consistency, the right activities, and a format students can tolerate goes a long way. Math is built on prior knowledge — gaps don't stay contained. They spread.